Carburetor



May 10, 1932. F. H. HEITGER CARBURETOR Filed Jan. 24, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 10, 1932. F. H. HEITGER OARBURETOR Filed Jan. 24. 1928 3 Sheets-Shget 2 May 10, 1932. HEn-GER 1,857,245

CARBURETOR Filed Jan. 24. 1928 SSheetS-Sheet a v WIi/XIIIIIIA'III Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OABBUBETOB Application fled January 24, 19. Serial 10. 249,086-

This invention relates to improvements in carburetors for internal combustion en nes,

as used on automobiles and the like, an particularly to the choker or valve on the air in- I take of such carburetors.

Usually, the choke valve of such carburetors ismanually closed to obtain a rich mixture for starting, such closing resulting in an abnormally high degree of suction on the fuel jets which are arranged posterior of this valve. After the starting mixture is obtained, in this manner, and the motor commences operation, the choker is released and the choke valve is put in wide open position. 16 In cool or cold weather, should one attempt to run the motor or car with this valve wide open, after the initial start, the mixture, if set normally right, will still be too lean for motor conditions, in consequence of which 2 the driver will close the choke valve again, or set it in some intermediate position that provides a firing mixture to prevent popping or backfiring into the carburetor, but to get the pro er mixture (one that will fire regularly without backfiring) requires a different intermediate position of the choke valve for diiferent speeds. This necessitates several settings of this valve in different positions as the motor warms up, and after the motor has warmed up sufliciently, the choke valve can be 0 ened wide.

It is t e latter operation of the choke valve which my invention obviates. I intend to employ manual means whereby this valve may be positively closed or choked at the initial starting of the motor, or be positively opened when desired. When the manually o erated means is set in anintermediate posit1on,,my mechanism is such as to allow the choke valveto operate automatically by suction through the air intake, so that it may operate by suction from a closed to a partly open position; such opening movement being limited by an adjustable stop set by the operator from the dashboard of the vehicle. To accomplish this purpose, the mechanism includes a movable calibrated means such as a spring or weight, to resist the opening of the valve by suction, whereby difierent speeds and degrees of suction open the valve accordingly, and after the motor is sufiiciently warmed up, the choke valve can be set by the manual means in a normal wide open position.

One of the objects of the present invention is to so position the parts that the main operating elements of the structure are arranged within the air intake. They perform the functions as explained, but all bein inside, except a manually operated lever o the device, makes a simple and more compact installation, one that is not easily deranged, and one which has the appearance of the ordinary choker structure.

A further object of the invention is to rovide means of this character which may be readily assembled or dismantled, and the operation of which may be readily learned by the. user of the vehicle.

A further object'is to employ means whereby the driver of the car can operate the device satisfactorily and as intended, from the dash; such means including elements to enable the operator to feel when the mechanism is in intermediate operating position, even in the dark.

A still further object is to incorporate in such means, a thermostatic element which will exert greater resistance to the automatic opening of the choke valve, while the motor is cold, than it will after the motor is warmed With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view partly in vertical section of a carburetor and dash control means combined with my mechanism In this view, the choke valveis shown in positively closed position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse. vertical sectional view taken on .line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the air intake of the carburetor with the choker valve mechanism in intermediate position to permit the valve to automatically open 'apredetermined amount from closed position, under suction influence from the engine.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an operating member forming part of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the upper end of the valve operating rod with an improvement thereon to enable the rod to be latched in intermediate position.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a carburetor provided with a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the air intake of this modification.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing another embodiment of the control rod latch.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a preferred modification.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1 designates a carburetor having the usual air intake 2, float chamber 3, and fuel inlet connection 4. I have illustrated the invention in connection with a common type of plain tube carburetor, but it is to be understood that the device can be incorporated into any type carburetor that requires a choker, or in which such a device may be used.

A choker valve 5 of elliptical shape is pivotally mounted and arranged within the intake 2, and this valve is preferably mounted on a slotted shaft 6 having one of its ends journaled in a bearing 7 on the intake, and its other end journaled in an extension shaft 8. It will be noted that the axis of the shaft 6 is arranged above or off-center, relatively to the axis of the intake 2, so that the lower portion of the valve will always tend to move by gravity into a closed position when suitable control mechanism is in an intermediate position. To aid in such automatic closing, I connect to the valve, by any suitable means, weights 9, which will not only keep the valve closed at certain times, but will actually resist automatic opening of the same under suction influence from the engine.

As heretofore stated, in the present invention, the valve may be positively closed; positively opened, or when the control mechanism is in intermediate position, the valve may automatically open, due to suction, a predetermined limited amount. For this purpose, the extension shaft 8 is 'ournaled in a boss 10 at one side of the inta e, and it is prevented from moving lengthwise by a "screw 11 which engages an annular groove 12 in the shaft." This extension shaft is riveted at one end, as shown at 13, to a lever 14, and the other end of the shaft is provided with suitable loose connecting means including, for example, diametrically opposite slots 15 to. receive the edge of the valve 5; such slots being sufliciently wide to permit the shaft 8 to move to a certain degree without causing any corresponding movement of the valve.

In other words, the slots 15 divide the inner end of the shaft 10 into oppositely disposed jaws 16 which have a loose connection with the sides of the valve 5.-

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the jaws positively engage opposite sides of the valve, and preve nt the latter from opening. On the other hand, when the lever 14 has beenmoved to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 3, the jaws are so positioned that the valve is free to rock to some extent from closed to predetermined limited partially open position, under the suction influence of the engine. Further, when the lever 14 has been moved to another limiting position (wide open), the jaws 16 will hold the valve against a stop pin 17 arranged in the intake, and as the result, the valve will be positively held in wide open position.

It will be noted in the present invention that the valve is normally out of operation.

By normal operation, I mean after the motor is warmed up, the valve is not in operation, or should not be.

To enable the operator to control the lever 14 from the dash, such lever is provided with a pivotally mounted knob 18 having an aperture through which an operating rod 19 extends; this rod being locked to the member 18 by a screw 20. The upper end of the rod has a cylindrical enlargement 21 which slides in an aperture 22 in the dash board 23 of the vehicle. As best shown in Fig. 5, the enlargement 21 has a longitudinal slot 24 in which a bowed wire spring 25 operates. This spring has one of its ends fixed at 26 to the part 21, and it bears against the wall of the aperture 22, so that the spring assists in holding the parts in any position to which they have been moved. In this form of the invention, the part 21 has a notch 27 which latches on the dash board under the influence of the spring 25, and this construction enables the operator to feel when the rod 19 has been moved to intermediate operating position, that is, the position shown in Fig. 3. The usual hand knob 28 is provided on the upper end of the part 21.

Normally, the part 21 will be in depressed or inward position, as is usual with the choke control handles now in general use, and consequently, the valve 5 will be in fully opened position, and be positively held in such position.

When the motor is to be started, if conditions are such as to require the use of the choke valve, the operator pulls the handle 28 into the position shown in Fig. 1. This positively closes the choke valve, and holds it in closed position. over either'by hand or the usual starting motor, and as no air can enter the intake 2, the suction of the engine will be immediately exerted on the fuel jet or jets, and an extremely rich mixture will pass to the engine. After Then the engine is turned the engine commences to operate, the operator of the vehicle moves the handle 28 to the point where the notch 27 is latched to the dash board. This causes the lever 14 to move to the position shown in Fig. 3, and then the valve will automatically open a predetermined amount, limited by jaws 16 and dash control, depending on the suction exerted by the engine.

In cool or warm weather, putting the op erating means in intermediate position (the warm up position) at the start, will choke the air enough for a rich starting mixture, without the valve being tightly closed.

After the engine has been warmed up sutli- 6d.

I also use a loose connection between the,

ciently for normal operation, the handle 28 may be depressed to fully open the valve 5, and to hold the same in such a position.

While the valve is in the intermediate position shown in Fig.3, and assuming that the motor is running, suction will tend to open the valve to a degree depending on the suction existing in the intake, and limited by one or both jaws 16, and the Weights 9 offer resistance to this opening, and for difierent speeds or positions, of the ordinary throttle valve of the carburetor, valve- 5 takes up a different position automatically, so that the suction on the fuel jets is at all times sufficient to give a firing mixture, and to prevent back-firing. The mechanism obviates the need of the driver setting the choke control on the clash at different points, for different speeds until the motor is warmed up.

Instead of employing the weights 9, I may use spring means to accomplish the same purpose. To this end, I may modify the mechanism as shown in Figs. 6' and 7. In such construction, the shaft 6a will. have one of its ends extended outwardly beyond the side of the intake, and on its extension, I mount a ring 30 adjustably secured in position by a screw 31. The ring is integral with a horn or finger 32 which projects away from the axis of the shaft, and engages the free end of a spring 33, the other end of which is mounted on the carburetor by means of a screw 34 engaging a bracket 35.

This spring will accomplish the same general-results as the weights 9, but in addition,

by loosening the screw 33, for example, and adjusting the ring 30 of the shaft 6a, the tension of the spring may be varied.

If the spring is made up of superposed leaves of suitable metals, it will form a thermostat, and w' h such a construction, the spring will exert greater resistance to the movement of the valve 5a while the engine is cold, then when it is warmed up.

I have shown in Fig. 8, a modification of the dash control mechanism. In this construction, the valve operating rod 19a has an enlargement 21a,simi'lar to that shown in Fig. 5, but in the modification, the notch 27a is arranged on the spring 25a instead of in the part 21a. Both forms will operate in the same general manner.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9, the air intake passageway 20 is provided with a choke valve 50. The axis of the valve shaft 60 in this form of the invention is arranged below the axis of the air intake, and the weights 9c are located to the left of the shaft instead of to the right, as in the other forms. As the valve shaft is also slot-ted in this embodiment of the invention, the valve may be inserted in the slot from the open end of the air intake, and it may be secured in position by a screw valve and the operating lever 140, and such loose connection may be of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 9, the lever 140 extends downwardly instead of upwardly, as the valve in this case opens by movement in a clock-wise direction, instead of in a counter-clock-wise direction.

The lever 140 may be actuated by control mechanism of the type shown, and which has been described in connection with Fig. 1.

The valve in Fig. 9 is shown in closed position, and held in this position by the jaws 160. When the control mechanism is moved to intermediate position, the valve may swingfrom closed position to a partially open position, the latter being limited by the position of the jaws 160. Of course, when the member 21 is entirely depressed, the jaws will hold the valve fully opened.

The weights or springs, size of valve, the offset position of the shaft 6, 60 are all calibrat'ed to give the proper results on a given motor, and I have found best results with the weight or other resistance to the valve opening from closed to a limited artly open position, to be such that it would make the mixture somewhat too rich after the motor is warmed up, thereby notifying the driver that the carburetor is still automatically choked, giving him warning to put itin a wide open position.

\Vhile I have shown and described preferred embodiments of the invention in such manner that they may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art, I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a carburetor, anair inlet, means for restricting the flow of air through said inlet, said means comprising a valve mounted off. center so as to open by suction under certain conditions, manually operated means whereby said valve may be closed fully or opened fully, said manually operated means being adapted to be set in an intermediate position, and in that position, allowing said valve to open by suction, a predetermined amount from a closed position, said manually opera-ted means including an element arranged within the inlet for en aging and releasing said valve, and mova ble means adapted to resist the opening of said valve when the manually operated means is in an intermediate position.

2. In a carburetor, an air intake, a ch ke valve in said intake capable of moving into such position as to fully open said air intake, a slotted shaft for the choke valve, the valve extending through the slot and being capable of insertion through the inlet of the intake, weighted means tending to move the valve to closed position, and means for holding said valve in full open or full closed position, said means including a loose connection to permit the valve under certain conditions to open under suction influence from the engine, said means also including an adjustable element to limit the opening movement of the valve under suction.

3. A valve for air conduits for carburetors comprising shafting extending across said conduit and having its axis arranged offcenter relatively to the axis of the conduit, a valve mounted on said shafting, movable means to resist the opening of said valve, said shafting including telescoping parts, one of said parts having means engageable with the valve and forming a loose connection between the valve and said part, a lever connected to the last mentioned part, actuating means for said lever and cooperating means for positively holding the lever in an-intermediate position.

4. A valve for air conduits for carburetors having oppositely disposed bearings, a choke .valve arranged in said conduit having means for moving said valve into closed position, an extension shaft mounted in one of said bearings, a shaft carried by said valve having one of its ends mounted in the other bearing of said air conduit and the other end mounted in the inner end of said extension shaft, said extension shaft being provided with diametrically opposed slots to receive said air valve forming a loose connection between said extension shaft and valve and means for oscillating said extension shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRANK H. HEITGER. 

